hi everyone,
So this has been a busy year. studying and working has made watching television for fun nearly impossible. But luckily I got assigned some pretty cool TV shows to review this year so i was able to get my thrills in. In the rare off-times I had I was also able to watch a few things that I was not reviewing. So if a popular favourite is not on my list it is probably because I just have not been able to watch it yet.
I was asked by News24 to list my favourite shows of 2022 and I wrote about Abbott Elementary, Only Murders in the Building and The White Lotus S2, you can read that and the other reviewers’ favourites here.
But here is what else I would have put on my list:
Yellowjackets - This was one of my favourite new dramas. It tells the story of a high school girls soccer team that get into a plane crash in 1996 and have to do drastic things to survive. But in 2021, the survivors have to come together to hide their past and come to terms with new threats. It has an amazing cast including 90’s greats like Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis and Christina Ricci. My review for News24. It’s available to watch on Showmax.
The Afterparty - A murder takes place at a 15-year high school reunion and one by one the attendees are interviewed to discover the truth. A really funny series, with every episode told in a different genre from a different perspective, it was really well done. My review for News24. You can watch it on Apple TV+.
Young, Famous & African - One of my favourite reality shows of 2022. It followed the lives of a few African celebrities from Khanyi Mbau to Annie Macaulay-Idiba to Nadia Nakai. It is fun, it is dramatic and it kept me tuned all the way in to the end. You can watch it on Netflix.
Savage Beauty - This South African series surprised me over how into it I was. It tells the story of a woman who was wronged and tries to take down a powerful and rich family from the inside. It has all the makings of a juicy telenovela while only having a handful of episodes. It is available to watch on Netflix.
Never Have I Ever S3 - Devi has always been my problematic favourite but season 3 had her growing and learning from her mistakes so I was definitely on board. I watched the entire season in one day and I know it’s going to be so difficult to say goodbye to one of my favourite shows. You can watch it on Netflix.
Landscapers - Easily the best fictionalised true crime series I watched this year. It tells the story of a middle-aged couple (played by Olivia Colman and David Thewlis) who murder her parents and are caught years later. Everything is told so beautifully, the characters are treated with respect, the cinematography is out-of-this-world and it has some of the best framing I’ve seen in a television series. My review for News24. You can watch it on Showmax.
Derry Girls S3 - It was so difficult saying goodbye to this show. One of my favourite comedies in recent memory, Derry Girls bid farewell as the Good Friday Referendum took place. One of the sweetest and funniest shows, it tells the story of four teenage girls growing up in the 90s during the Troubles in Derry, Ireland. You can watch it on Netflix.
Acapulco S2 - A show that I believe is personally underrated is Acapulco. It is set in two timelines - in the 1980s when Massimo is making his way up the ladder working at a luxury resort in Acapulco, Mexico and in the current day when Massimo is a millionnaire telling his nephew about his antics. This season is even better as young Massimo turns darker and older Massimo becomes more vulnerable. It’s incredibly sweet, very funny and has a lot of twists and turns. My review for News24. You can watch it on Apple TV+.
P-Valley S2 - One of the best depictions of life during the pandemic. P-Valley took us back to the strip club but added new ownership, a Lil Murda tour, a political race and more. The second season delivered with excellent writing, heartbreaking performances and more. My review for News24. You can watch it on Showmax.
The Bear - This one surprised me. The dramedy about a chef who returns home to take over his deceased brother’s restaurant seems simple enough. However, this tale of grief, of the toxicness of the food industry, of family and of growth, was so beautiful and anxiety-inducing that I was hooked. My review for News24. You can watch it on Disney+.
If you follow me on Instagram, I have already asked you, but if you are keen to share, recommend me some of your favourites that I can maybe get to in 2023.
Love,
Caryn